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It was 14th August, my dog Jack's 4th birthday. Not that he knew it was his birthday but it worked in his favour as I wouldn't have felt right leaving him behind on his birthday so we took my car instead of Moira's so the dogs could come.
We parked just beyond Inverlael House and headed up through the Lael Forest into Gleann na Squaib. Once beyond the forest the stalker's path follows the north east side of the River Lael with Beinn Dearg clearly visible ahead.
Heading up Gleann na Squaib towards Beinn Dearg
Meall nan Ceapraichean on left
Looking back towards Inverlael
Not far up the path Jack struck labrador gold when he found a foul-smelling, decomposing deer carcase and tore off a piece of leg to bring with him and chew along the way.
First I put Tess on the lead to stop her rolling on said festering carcase.
Second I put Jack on the lead and removed the offending item from his mouth and threw it away as far as I could. Third I washed my hands in the first water I came to in an attempt to get rid of the smell, while still holding both mutts on the lead. Only when we were far enough on for them not to try to go back to reclaim confiscated booty did I let them off the lead.
Tess easily distracted by the lochan
And a rock in her mouth
Jack pondering his loss under the cliffs of Beinn Dearg
There's no justice - she steals my bounty and expects me to pose for her!
From the bealach a dry stone dyke climbs steeply in a south westerly direction up Beinn Dearg. The path follows the wall, to begin with keeping to the west side. The wall runs for several miles along the east-west summit ridge of Beinn Dearg. Known as 'destitution wall' or 'famine wall' it was built by starving crofters during the potato famine in the mid 1840s in return for oatmeal and stands to this day as a monument to the harsh living conditions they endured. It was presumably built to keep livestock from falling down the cliffs.
The famine wall (Moira's pic)
Ullapool, Assynt and Meall Ceapraichean from wall
When the wall swings to the right you step through a gap and continue south up the stony plateau to the summit cairn.
A worthy summit for Moira's 100th
At the top we met a man and his sons who got a lift up the track as far as the gate. He can see Beinn Dearg from his B & B in Ullapool but had never been up and decided he had to rectify that - but with a bit of help apparently!
Man and sons in background of this pic
A hug for the birthday boy (Moira's pic)
View from the top - Loch a' Bhraoin and the Fannichs
More summit posing
North to Stac Pollaidh and hills of Assynt
Jack standing in the gap (Moira's pic)
Dogs waiting to follow Moira through the gap, dark fin of Seana Bhraigh visible on left
Whenever the going is rough and steep the dogs stick close
Not sure if that's for their benefit or ours!
Down to the bealach
Tess with a souvenir
It's a good path with easy river crossings and waterfalls along the way.
I had forgotten about the confiscated deer leg. But Jack hadn't forgotten and as we got nearer to the forest he trotted off, a dog on a mission. He found it of course, which wasn't hard as the smell was so bad, and he was so proud of himself!
I did feel a heel taking it off him a second time but then again it's a dog's life - even on his birthday!
